Front Axle Problem - I think

Lifted the Jeep, new tires, everything going just fine, then a noise started happening. I have jumped on the front and back of the Jeep over and over, and can't hear anything other than shocks, so I think it is below the suspension. I think its coming from the front left tire, wife thinks it is coming from the front right tire, so somewhere in-between?

I had the wife drive it up and down the road while I ran along the side, but I could not see anything hitting or moving, and I could not pinpoint where the heck the noise was coming from. The noise isn't always there, but when it is, it does seem to click at the rate of tire rotation.

I haven't had a chance to take the tires off and check (don't actually own a hi-lift (next purchase....)) and haven't been to my friends house that helped me with the lift.

Anyone with any ideas on where I should look next or might have an idea of what is wrong?

Thanks in advance,
Brian

 

something hitting/rubbing the body after the lift ?
shift linkage
steering linkage
with the locking hubs unlocked, nothing is turning in the front axle other than the wheel bearings
does it make the noise:
on accel
on de-accel
on corners
over bumps
when starting/stopping
coasting in neutral with engine off
personally I would check and re-tighten (put a wrench on) all of the bolts pertaining to the lift, seems like the place to start

 

Thanks for the reply.

I don't see anything that is rubbing or scraping the body after the lift. Double and triple checked the break lines.

I have double checked the torque settings of all the u-bolts, and replaced the steering linkage (pitman arm to knuckle, not knuckle to knuckle tie-rod).

I have to travel over speed bumps to and from my house and don't notice it happening just then. I usually notice it when I first start accel'ing (no road noise), but it doesn't happen all the time.

I have not tried coasting with it in neutral and engine off. I will give that a try.

Thanks again!

 

it might be some thing as simple as a valve stim in the tire u might try jacking up the front end and see if spin the tire you might be able to hear it if you do i would take the tires back to the place that i mounted them for you

 

You don't have a big ol' rock stuck in the tread of one of those new tire do ya? That'll make a clicking noise.

 

I agree, new tires pick up rocks like a champ. I didn't see it in the posts (I may have missed something), but are you in 2 or 4 wheel drive when it is making the noise. Also, are the hubs locked in? If in 2 wheel drive with the hubs unlocked, it just about has to be somewhere in the hub if it is not the tires picking up rocks or something loose with the lift. Make sure you go over everything on jpflat2a's list and if you still can't get it post back here and we will go into it a little further.

 

Darn good idea! Also How much lift did you install? are the ujoint ubolts bottoming out on the yoke when driving and flexing susp?

 

Could be a binding or worn out ujoint too. Grab a hold and shake each shaft. If all is tight grab a plumbers level and start measuring. angle of operation should be max about 17* iirc.

Karl

 

Again, thanks for all the replies

2wd, haven't tried 4wd since the lift. 4.5 RE lift. Started about a month after the lift, at least that is when I noticed it. Does not always happen, but more often than not, it is making the noise. The noise seems to increase the faster I go, but it isn't exaclty sync'd with the rotation of the tires. Sometimes I will hear two clicks in a row. I will hear a click, pause, hear a click, click, pause, etc.

No rocks in the tires. I need to get a hi-lift to jack it up so I can turn the tires.

Ordered the tires and had them shipped to me. Taking them off the truck I didn't install them right away and had to move them a few times for storage. Never heard the noise, but that doesn't rule it out, either.

I love this idea =) I don't have radio's, but I will borrow some if I can.

The noise happens going down the road, without any bumps. The RE lift came with some nice plates (skid plates) that the u-bolts bolt into, so there are no threads from the u-bolts haning out